Thread: Necessity or Luxury?

Hey there, I've been shaving with a straight for about a month now and have been having the best shaves of my life. I bought a very inexpensive old razor on the classifieds and have been extremely pleased with the results.

That being said, I've read in many different places on the site that it is important to have a blade to compare the first blade against. I'm a college student and fit the old cliche perfectly- not too much money to throw around for hobbies. My real question is how important is a second blade for comparison? Is my best bet to keep lurking on the classifieds for another steal to come along? Or are multiple razors simply a luxury that I'll have to wait a few more years on?

Your honest and sincere advice is appreciated.

Sincerely,
Conor

I would recommend buying another one. I alternate between two, sometimes three. A problem you'll have is that when you need to have it honed you'll be without your razor until you get it back, unless you're honing it yourself.

John

well man ill be honest with you, Im 15 have light hair growth but ive had just one razor since i started shavign and i manage just fine, Get a barber hone (10-30$) and you will be set of along time, a barber hone will keep your razor keen for many years. If you cant afforad a barbers hone then go with a cheap piece of balsa or a piece of leather with strop past on it and use that when ever your razor starts to tug, PM me if you have any questions .

Deerhunter.

I know what it's like to be a poor college student. That said, I say it depends...it's a luxury of sorts, but it keeps you informed on the true wear status of the blade you're using. AND, as already pointed out, when you have to send it out for honing, it gives you a blade to use in the interrim...then you can use the 1st blade as a guide while using your second. This is true even if you're honing your own, as the back up blade serves as a point of referrence for the honing work you're doing.

I'd say, skip a few pizzas, beers, and/or coffee's and snatch up a pre-honed razor from the classifieds or whippeddog.com

Good luck with your schooling too!

Hehe, being a mentor for high school kids and playing baseball keep the drinking at bay, so it won't be a problem skimping there!
Thanks for the advice guys, and I was wondering if you knew where I could pick up a decent barber's hone to keep the edge fresh on the razor I already own.

Thanks,
Conor

Communist China is your friend... comrade! (maybe you don't even know that term)

Ebay is a nice place to start, or antique shops, ive come across many in shops before but ive only ever bought one i dont need many. Talk to ron (Utopia) shoot him a pm maby he would have one hed part with somewhat cheap.

I would get one more razor and the barbers hone. Check ebay, there are plenty of them. When you get your eye on one, post it and let us look at it.

@ Deerhunter, good call buddy!


When you do your ebay search also look under hones, razor hones and so on, they are everywhere, you will just have to pick thru everything.

There weren't too many on ebay, but here are a few that I found. I have absolutely no idea about quality so go easy on me when it comes to these things.
RARE XX BLACK DIAMOND BARBER SHOP RAZOR HONE & BOX - eBay (item 180637710441 end time Mar-15-11 19:01:08 PDT)
Reliance Vintage BARBERS HONE Old Stone in Box - eBay (item 300536112144 end time Mar-17-11 17:40:29 PDT)
Shumate Dry Barber Hone- Vintage full size - eBay (item 200584599456 end time Mar-13-11 09:19:54 PDT)

And about picking up an extra razor, any more recommendations besides the classifieds and whipped dog? whipped dog looks like it has some decent razors for sale, so I'm not shutting these sources down, just wanting to make sure I've looked everywhere!

Out of the 3 posted I would take the Shumate, the Black Diamond had something all over it, the Reliance had crappy pics. The Shumate pics were bad , but what I saw was good, and I am familiar with them and they are good. If you wish, ask the sellers to take better pics The prices on any of the 3 were good as well.